Device for opening letters



(No Model.)

' H. O. VOLK & E, WEILANDQ DEVICE FOR OPENING LETTERS.

No. 471,283. Patented Mar. 22, 1892.

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' UNITED STATES ATENT FFICE.

HERMAN C. VOLK AND EDYVARD VVEILAND, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

DEVICE FOR'OPENING LETTERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 471,283, dated March22, 1892.

I Application filed February 15 1892- Serial No. 421,525. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that we, HERMAN C. VOLK and EDWARD WEILAND, citizens of theUnited States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devicesfor Opening Letters, of which the fol-. lowing is a specification.

Our invention relates to a novel device for opening letters, and will befully and clearly hereinafter described and claimed, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation ofa hexagon lead-pencil, showing a top view of our device connectedtherewith and a portion of a letterenvelope for the purpose ofillustrating its operation. Fig. 2 is also a side elevation of alead-pencil, showing a side elevation of our invention connectedtherewith. Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-section through a pencil in orabout line a a, Fig. 2, showing a front elevation of our deviceconnected thereto. Fig. i is a central longitudinal section through apor-' tion of a lead-pencil and our invention connected therewith in orabout line 6 c, Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, the holdingpiece consists of a tubular springclaspingpiece 1, having a longitudinal opening2 at one side and anupwardly-projecting gage 3 at its upper front end. From the aboveconstruction it will be seen that this holdingpiece, being made ofspring metal, steel, brass, or other suitable spring material, willclasp and hold closely to the pencil when slipped on. At the top ofthe'rear end is secured to or formed in one piece with it a springportion 4, which projects forward over the portion 1 and is provided atits forward end with a cutter 5, projecting edge downward a shortdistance ahead of the gage 3.

On each side of the cutter 5 and forming part of the forward portion ofthe spring portion 4 is a wing portion 6, each concave at the top androunded at its lower or under side.

These portions form a convenient thumb or finger piece to press on whenoperating the device and at the same time present rounded surfaces toallow the envelope or letter end to pass easily under them or betweenthem and the pencil-body.

In operating with this device the end of a letter-envelope is slippedunder the cutter 5 until its edge rests against the gage 3. The pencilbeing heldin one hand, with the thumb pressing down on the portions 6with sufficient force to cause the cutter to cut the paper, the envelopeis drawn forward with the other hand against the gage 3 and under thecutter 5, thereby cutting a line 7 at the end of the envelope, which maybe easily opened HERHAN O. VOLK. EDXVARD VVEILAND.

Witnesses:

JENNIE M. CALDWELL, J AMES SANGSTER.

